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Zirconia Crowns

Comprehensive Guide to Zirconia Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are a common dental restoration used to restore the shape, size, and function of a damaged or decayed tooth. Selecting the right crown material is crucial for dental restorations, as it impacts aesthetics, durability, and compatibility with patient needs. Zirconia dental crowns are a relatively new type of crown that has gained popularity in recent years due to their strength, durability, and natural appearance.

Our Berkeley, CA dentist explores zirconia crowns, offering you insights into this newer type of dental restoration.

What Are Zirconia Dental Crowns?

Zirconia dental crowns are made from zirconium oxide, a high-quality ceramic material. What is zirconia? Zirconia is a robust material that can be shaped into solid blocks for precise applications in CAD/CAM manufacturing and is known for its durability after being processed at ultra-high temperatures. These crowns are known for their strength, durability, and natural tooth appearance. The zirconia closely resembles the color and translucency of the natural tooth enamel, making it a popular choice among patients.

Dental Crowns

Benefits of Zirconia Crowns

There are several benefits to choosing zirconia crowns. Some of the most notable advantages include:

  • Durability: They’re incredibly strong and resistant to wear and tear, making them a long-lasting solution for dental restorations.
    • Solid zirconia, also known as monolithic zirconia, offers excellent flexural strength and is effective in masking discoloration.
  • Aesthetics: These crowns are known for their natural tooth appearance, which makes them a great option for front teeth or other visible areas of the mouth.
    • High translucent zirconia provides a natural appearance and blends seamlessly with surrounding teeth.
  • Biocompatibility: Zirconia is a biocompatible material, meaning it’s less likely to cause an allergic reaction or other adverse effects in the body.
  • Precision: Crowns made of zirconia can be milled with great precision using computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology, ensuring a precise fit and minimal adjustments.

Drawbacks

While zirconia crowns offer many benefits, there are also some drawbacks to consider. These include:

  • Cost: Zirconia crowns can be more expensive than other types of dental crowns, due to the high cost of the material and the specialized equipment required for fabrication.
  • Difficulty With Adjustments: While they can be milled with great precision, this can also make them difficult to adjust if needed.
  • Potential for Chipping: While these crowns are strong, they may be prone to chipping or cracking if subjected to excessive force or trauma.
  • Difficulty Bonding: They may be more difficult to bond to the tooth structure compared to other types of crowns, which can increase the risk of complications such as dislodgement or decay around the margins.

*Dailley Dental Care may not offer all of the above dental crown options

Comparison to Other Crowns

When it comes to dental restorations, zirconia crowns stand out for their exceptional strength, durability, and natural appearance. Compared to porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns, zirconia crowns offer superior aesthetics and biocompatibility. PFM crowns, while strong, often have a metal substructure that can show through the porcelain, affecting the crown’s appearance over time. Additionally, some patients may experience allergic reactions to the metal used in PFM crowns, making zirconia a better option for those with metal sensitivities.

Full gold crowns, on the other hand, are known for their durability and longevity. However, they lack the natural tooth appearance that zirconia crowns provide, making them less desirable for visible areas of the mouth. Gold crowns are also more expensive, which can be a significant consideration for many patients. In contrast, zirconia crowns offer a balance of strength, aesthetics, and cost-effectiveness, making them a popular choice in modern dental practices.

The Zirconia Dental Crown Process

Consultation and Preparation

The first step in getting a zirconia dental crown is to schedule a consultation with your dentist. During this appointment, your Berkeley, CA dentist will examine your tooth and determine whether a crown is necessary. If a crown is deemed necessary, your dentist will prepare the tooth by removing any decay or damage and shaping the tooth to make room for the crown.

Impressions and Temporary Crown

Once the tooth has been prepared, your dentist will take impressions of the tooth and the surrounding area. Zirconia materials, particularly those with varying percentages of yttrium, influence the material’s structure and properties, such as strength and translucency, which are crucial in selecting the right type of zirconia crown for patients. These impressions will be used to create a custom-fitted zirconia crown that matches the size, shape, and color of your natural teeth. While you wait for the permanent crown to be made, your dentist will place a temporary dental crown over the prepared tooth to protect it.

Crown Placement

Once the zirconia crown has been fabricated, your dentist will remove the temporary crown and place the new crown over the prepared tooth. Your dentist will check the fit and color of the zirconia crown in the office to ensure that it looks and feels natural. Once the crown is properly fitted, it will be permanently cemented onto the prepared tooth.

Post-Placement Care

After the crown has been placed, we’ll provide you with instructions on how to care for your new restoration. Practice good oral hygiene habits, such as brushing and flossing regularly, to prevent plaque buildup and decay. Additionally, it’s best to avoid habits that can cause damage to the crown, such as chewing on hard objects or grinding your teeth. With proper care and maintenance, a zirconia dental crown can last for many years.

Longevity and Maintenance of Zirconia Crowns

Zirconia crowns are renowned for their durability and long lifespan, often lasting between 10 to 15 years or more with proper care. To maximize the longevity of your zirconia crown, it’s essential to maintain good oral hygiene practices. This includes brushing your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing daily to remove plaque and food particles from between your teeth and around the crown.

Regular dental check-ups are crucial for monitoring the condition of your zirconia crown and the surrounding teeth. During these visits, your dentist can identify any potential issues early on and provide professional cleanings to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Additionally, if you have a habit of grinding or clenching your teeth, known as bruxism, it’s important to address this with your dentist. They may recommend a night guard to protect your crown and natural teeth from excessive wear and tear.

Common Uses for Zirconia Crowns

Zirconia crowns are versatile and can be used in various dental restorations to enhance both function and aesthetics. Here are some common applications:

  • Posterior Crowns: Due to their strength and durability, zirconia crowns are an excellent choice for restoring molars and premolars, which endure significant chewing forces.
  • Anterior Crowns: Zirconia crowns can also be used for front teeth, where a natural appearance is crucial. Their translucency and ability to match the color of surrounding teeth make them ideal for visible areas.
  • Dental Implants: Zirconia crowns are often used to restore dental implants, providing a natural-looking and functional replacement for missing teeth.
  • Dental Bridges: Zirconia crowns can be used to create dental bridges, which replace one or more missing teeth by anchoring to adjacent teeth or implants.

These applications highlight the versatility and effectiveness of zirconia crowns in various dental restorations.

Zirconia Dental Crown Cost and Insurance

The cost of zirconia dental crowns can vary widely, typically ranging from $500 to $2,000 per tooth. Several factors influence the price, including the geographic location of the dental practice, the dentist’s experience and reputation, and the quality of the zirconia material used. Urban areas with higher living costs generally have higher dental fees compared to rural areas.

Insurance coverage for zirconia crowns can also vary. Some dental insurance plans may cover a portion of the cost, but it’s essential to check with your provider to understand the specifics of your policy. While zirconia crowns may have a higher upfront cost compared to other types of crowns, their durability and long lifespan often make them a worthwhile investment in the long run.

Zirconia Dental Crown Cost

Zirconia crowns typically cost between $1,000 to $2,500. The total cost will vary based on the following factors:

  • Geographic Location: Urban areas with higher living costs generally have higher dental costs than rural areas.
  • Dentist’s Experience and Reputation: Well-established dentists or specialists may charge more for their services.
  • Dental Laboratory: The quality of the zirconia material and the craftsmanship of the dental lab making the crown can influence the cost. 
  • Additional Procedures: If other treatments or procedures are needed in conjunction with the crown placement (e.g., root canal, a dental implant, dental bridges, or gum treatments), the overall cost will increase.
  • Dental Insurance: If you have dental insurance, it may cover a portion of the crown’s cost, depending on your policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are zirconia crowns better than porcelain?
How long do zirconia crowns last?
Do zirconia crowns look like real teeth?
Can zirconia crowns turn yellow?
Are zirconia crowns better than porcelain?

Both zirconia and porcelain crowns have their own unique set of advantages and disadvantages. Zirconia crowns are generally considered to be stronger and more durable than porcelain crowns, which makes them a better choice for patients with bruxism (teeth grinding) or other conditions that can cause excessive wear and tear on the teeth. 

How long do zirconia crowns last?

When properly cared for, a zirconia crown can last 10 to 15 years. The lifespan of a zirconia crown can vary depending on factors such as the patient’s oral health and hygiene habits, their bite and chewing patterns, and the quality of the crown itself.

Do zirconia crowns look like real teeth?

Yes, zirconia crowns can be made to closely resemble natural teeth in terms of color, shape, and texture. Zirconia is a translucent material that allows light to pass through it, which helps to create a natural-looking appearance. Additionally, zirconia crowns can be customized to match the surrounding teeth in terms of shade and translucency, making them virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth.

Can zirconia crowns turn yellow?

Zirconia crowns are made of a durable material highly resistant to discoloration and staining, which is one of their advantages over other types of crowns. Like natural teeth, zirconia crowns can be affected by smoking, excessive consumption of coffee or red wine, or poor oral hygiene. To maintain the color and appearance of zirconia crowns, practice good oral hygiene habits and avoid habits that can cause discoloration.

See If Zirconia Restorations Fit Your Needs

Zirconia crowns are a strong, durable, and aesthetically pleasing type of dental crown that offers several benefits over other types of crowns. If you’re considering zirconia crowns for your dental restoration, be sure to talk to our dentists about the pros and cons of this type of crown, and whether it is the right choice for your individual needs and circumstances. 

Call our Berkeley, CA office today at 510-848-0114 to schedule an appointment.

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